The Story of the Ingalls Family

by William Anderson

What happened next? This is the question thousands of readers had when they finished reading the Little House series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The books, a saga of the American frontier spanning 1870-1889, were true stories. The characters, the family of Charles and Caroline Ingalls, were real people. In The Story of the Ingalls Family, the pioneer family's experiences are described through their journeys across the American heartland in search of a home. From Wisconsin to Kansas to Minnesota to Dakota. Their final stopping place was De Smet, South Dakota. The family's later lives are described, using such source material as Grace Ingalls' diary, correspondence, and recollections of those who knew them.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Biography Memoir

51 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1971

About the author

William Anderson is an American author, historian and lecturer. He is a specialist in the subject of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her times.

His interest in American frontier began after reading Little House on the Prairie. He is a director of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum in Mansfield, Missouri, and he lives and works as a teacher in Michigan.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short and informative read on the Laura Ingalls family. William Anderson, a noted Laura Ingalls Wilder researcher and historian, has written a well-researched, concise biography of the family’s pioneer life and westward journey.

Anderson begins with background information on Charles and Caroline and notes how intertwined the Quiner and Ingalls families became through multiple marriages between the siblings. It is after his marriage to Caroline that Charles begins the quest to become an independent productive farmer in the west. Anderson traces the family’s journey from the big woods of Wisconsin to their eventual settling in De Smet, SD.

Ma and Pa Ingalls lived out the remainder of their days in De Smet with Mary at home, and Carrie and Grace close by. Anderson gives a short summary of their activities and livelihoods, as well as Carrie’s and Grace’s marriages. Photos of the family through the years accompany the text and complete this short glimpse into the lives of Laura’s family.

If you’ve ever wondered what became of the others members of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s family, this quick read will satisfy your curiosity.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a child of the 70's, I am of course familiar with "The Little House on the Prairie." Though I have not read the books or seen all the shows when I came across this booklet, I was fascinated and couldn't resist picking it up.

The booklet is a brief (40-page) history of the Ingalls, broken down into small chapters which either covers a member or members of the family or their travels west until they ultimately end up in DeSmet, South Dakota. As the subtitle is "What happened next to Laura's family," the majority of the story takes place in DeSmet. It ends with actual entries from youngest sister Grace's diary. Having read this, I now not only want to read all the books, I want to go and see the places they lived.

The only thing I found curious is that while the lives of the Ingalls sisters are summarized from their births until their deaths, the birth of their brother, Charles Frederick,is just a brief note and he's not mentioned again.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's missing one star because I wish it had been longer. Anderson is a valuable author on the subject of the Ingalls family because of his access to artifacts and research that many don't have. There is some good stuff in here, some things you would never know unless you read this particular book. I would love to read his other things to get more of the story.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. I learned alot about the Ingalls family history, their travels west, and about life in De Smit.

[SnowBite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 44 page book fills in so much of what Laura left unwritten between the lines of her Little House books. The author, William Anderson, untangles truth from Laura's gently abridged childhood anecdotes. You'll learn why the Ingalls family left their idyllic Little House in the Big Woods and why Mary lost her sight. And, you may close the book with an unexpected dislike for the real Pa Ingalls, so completely unlike the character played by Michael Landon in the TV series and so unlike the kind, hardworking disciplinarian written by Laura. The photos alone are worth the price of the book; you get to see the real Laura, who really appears to be the hot-tempered "Half-Pint" of the books, you can see an example of the amazing beadwork that Mary learned to create at the Iowa College for the Blind, and you can read a short diary kept by Grace. I recommend this book for the adult fan of Laura's books; I don't recommend it for children, as that would be akin to taking away Santa Claus.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, informative book that gives "Little House" both back story and follow-up information on the Ingalls family.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visited the museum at Rocky Ridge Farm in Mansfield, Missouri where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived her married life and wrote the Little House on the Prairie books. Fascinating to see the family heirlooms on display and remember the stories from the books that were such a part of my childhood. This short book fills in many details about the family, including Laura's parents and her sisters and their lives in South Dakota after Laura moved away. Sad to think how much material was lost, because apparently much correspondence was thoughtlessly discarded after the death of Laura's parents.

[Jennifer Wrage · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this little book while I was at the Laura Ingalls-Wilder museum in Harmony, MN. It is a signed copy. I enjoyed not only the information about all the re-locations of the family, which I always wondered about, and also the photographs included. As a child I read the Little House books and my dad wove carpet for one of her restored homes. It filled in a lot of holes I had. Very informative and enjoyable.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading about the history od Laura'a family and learning what happened to them after the books were completed. I wish it had been longer!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent account of the missing pieces of the Rose series & the 1st 4 years series that were written by another author & Laura herself. This story give us more information about Carrie & Grace who are not heard much about in the Laura Ingalls Wilder series she wrote. In the following series The Rose series these girls are left out & so are all of Laura’s family members. This story also gives us a glimpse of the what happened to the last thee people that Laura knew throughout her live until she & Almonzo move away.

[E.D. Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative, quick read about the Ingalls family. It's a great companion to Pioneer Girl, if you're wanting to know more about Laura's grandparents and what happened to her parents and sisters after the events in her books. As a huge fan of the Little House books, I would've enjoyed learning even more about her family in an expanded version of this book.

[Barbara Bass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brief biography of the Ingalls family after the Little House books. It tells where each of the children lived and when they married. Mary never married according to this biography. Very interesting.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased a signed copy at Keystone Historical Museum, in which Carrie Ingalls used to work and live nearby. The guide was very precise, organised, and included some really interesting photos. It included lots of information I was previously unaware of.

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a compelling read in itself, but if you're curious about the real-life Ingalls family it's interesting.

[Michell Karnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short book detailing the Ingalls family and their travels.

[Catwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The biography of the family from the "Little House" books"
I bought this at the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum in Mansfield, Missoui.
Very interesting story of the family, includes many photos and drawings

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Left wanting more

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fifth grade +.

The true stories of the Ingalls, from the "Little House" series. Many of the original, authentic photographs, along with historical facts and research on the family and the time period.

Children should be acquainted with the "Little House" books before reading this. Excellent insights into the history involved in the popular stories.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in preparation to visiting De Smet, SD this summer. Glad I did, I felt so smart when the tour leader led us through the various historical sites and I already knew so much...can't ever get enough Laura Ingalls Wilder and "Little House" stuff!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

read again during trip to Walnut Grove and De Smet in 2015
first read 1994

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved Grace Ingalls diary in the appendix.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned some new things about Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Ingalls family.

[Lauri · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the William Anderson books are worth a read, and this is one of the originals.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the inclusion of written works by Carrie and Grace. Interesting to read events from another POV